Anyone who supports municipal climate protection and uses the climate coin app to save CO2 is automatically credited with climate coins. Walking, cycling and using public transport – every climate-friendly distance travelled is measured and converted into climate coins. What the Climate Coin app does here without the user’s intervention is based on statistical calculations. In this way, we make it transparent for the cities how high the CO2 savings are in municipal climate protection. Here are the exact figures and explanations of the local climate currency:
The savings of CO2 through climate-friendly locomotion are calculated in comparison to a car trip and the amount of diesel or gasoline required for it. On average, cars in Germany consumed 7.8 litres of petrol and 7 litres of diesel between 2007 and 2018 (source Statista). This corresponds to CO2 emissions of 218 g for gasoline and 223 g for diesel per kilometer of driving. Since we do not know the respective fuel of the car, we calculate the CO2 savings with the statistical average of the two values in the amount of 220 g per kilometer driven.
However, this value not only indicates how much CO2 is emitted through fuel consumption for one kilometer of driving – in technical terms, “tank-to-wheel” (TTW). The calculation also includes the CO2 emissions that occur on the way “well-to-tank” (WTT).
Tank-to-wheel – TTW
Tank-to-wheel (TTW) is the calculation limit for determining emissions (especially CO2) in traffic. TTW refers to the emissions of a vehicle that are produced by the car after refuelling (tank) in order to set the vehicle in motion (wheel).
More info at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank-to-Wheel
Well to Tank – WTT
Well-to-tank (WTT) refers to indirect emissions that occur during the provision of the fuel. This includes all greenhouse gas emissions that are released into the atmosphere during the production, processing and delivery of a fuel.
More info at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well-to-Tank
The Climate Coin has precisely calculated inner values
The combustion of one litre of petrol produces 2380 g of CO2, while one litre of diesel produces 2660 g of CO2. These fixed physical quantities are the basis for the tank-to-wheel ratio. In order to also take into account the CO2 emissions caused by the path of the fuel from the well to the tank, the following CO2 values must be added for the various fuels:
FC=consumption in l/100km
Diesel: CO2 WTT=FC*5.256
Gasoline: CO2 WTT=FC*4.192
Total CO2 is therefore calculated from:
Total CO2 = CO2 TTW + CO2 WTT
Example:
A diesel with a consumption of 7 l/100 km:
CO2 total = 186.2 + 36.792 = 222.992 g/km
A petrol engine with a consumption of 7.8 l/100 km:
CO2 total= 185.64 + 32.697 = 218.337 g/ km
For our Climate Coin app, we take it very seriously and have included even more aspects in the calculation. Based on data collection, we assume that about 20% of the distances covered on foot and by bike are for sporting reasons. Since these do not replace car journeys, but are recorded, we reduce the value for CO2 savings for walking and cycling by 20% compared to the car.
The values for local and long-distance public transport are based on the recommendations of the Federal Environment Agency. In general, CO2 values can be individually adjusted at any time due to local specifics in municipal climate protection, for example if the trams in the respective city are operated with 100% renewable energies.
These are the CO2 savings that are stored in our Climate Coin app:
Running = 176 g/km CO2 saving
Cycling = 176 g/km CO2 saving
Public transport = 76 g/km CO2 saving
Long-distance trains = 95 g/km CO2 saving
